CV NEWS FEED // Since the beginning of the war between Ukraine and Russia in February 2022, the Knights of Columbus have supported Ukranians in various ways, promising them that the Knights and their aid “are not going anywhere!”
The Knights of Columbus newsroom reported that while Knights of Columbus in Ukraine and Poland have played key roles in providing support to those affected by the war, councils in North America have gone “above and beyond” to help Ukraine as well.
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly visited Ukraine in April 2022, and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori also made a special trip the same year. According to KofC, Kelly told Ukrainian refugees: “You are not alone. We are with you. And the Knights of Columbus are not going anywhere!”
To support Ukraine, various councils throughout North America began their own unique initiatives. In Nebraska, St. John the Baptist Council 10305 started a fundraiser dinner, which has brought in over $22 million since its first dinner in May 2022.
“This is what we do in our council,” Michael Conrad, a member of the St. John the Baptist Council, told KofC. “When something like this comes up, we need to step up and help our fellow men.”
The Knights also raised $15,000 for a Polish orphanage for Ukrainian children. A council in Ontario also contributed an additional $5,000 to the orphanage.
Another council from Ontario organized a benefit concert, which quickly turned into a community event that included different Christian communities and even Ukrainian refugee families. According to KofC, the concert raised over $1,800 for the Ukraine Solidarity Fund.
In addition to providing financial support, the Knights have also been praying for peace in Ukraine.
“Beginning Feb. 15, 2024, the Supreme Council led an international novena for peace and healing in Ukraine to mark the second anniversary of the war,” KofC reported. “It was a culmination of the prayer initiatives of many local Knights, who, in their councils and parishes, have been begging the Lord for an end to hostilities for the last two years.”
KofC reported that a council in Pennsylvania created a spiritual bouquet, which included 222 Masses and 260 rosaries. The bouquet was given to Ukrainian State Deputy Youriy Maletskiy in the form of a card.
A Massachusetts council also put together a spiritual bouquet, consisting of First Friday devotions, rosary novenas, and prayers said in front of an icon of St. Joseph after the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
In Virginia, a parish and its KofC council has offered a rosary for peace almost every night since the beginning of the war. The rosary is also live streamed, thanks to the efforts of the Knights.
Robert Hehn of Council 7565 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, said that it’s important for the Knights to continue supporting Ukraine.
“The smallest efforts can give so much hope to those people, even if they are halfway across the world,” he said. “It is our way of showing we are united with them. It can make a big difference and give them strength and let them know we are there for them.”
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